Remington Model 1889 load

[ncbearman]

I acquired this gun and it is in good shape. My smith said it should be no problem shooting it with a light load. However, he isn't "familiar" with shotgun reloading. I used to shoot trap with my father every weekend and have reloaded thousands of rounds. Never for a gun that used to shoot black powder shells. Some help on powder, charge, wad (if it matters) and shot would be helpful. A starting point if you will. Thanks.

[skeettx]

So are you wanting a smokeless load for a black powder shotgun or a black powder load for a black powder shotgun?

Does the gun have twist or damascus barrels?

Thanks
Mike

interesting reading

http://www.remingtonsociety.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=3744

http://www.shotgunworld.com/bbs/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=209636&start=0

[ncbearman]

So are you wanting a smokeless load for a black powder shotgun or a black powder load for a black powder shotgun?

Does the gun have twist or damascus barrels?[/url]

They are side by side damascus barrels.

Thanks for the links. I have no experience in black powder shot shell reloading. Only modern smokeless. In the little I read from the forums you sent and what I have looked at on my own the only way I will know for sure is to have a metallurgist look at it for me. So I guess I need to re-evaluate why I want to shoot this gun in the first place. It has something to do with pulling back hammers on a shotgun and letting loose. Anyway.....

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_238404fde84503d95d.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5628)

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/imagehosting/thum_238404fde8450cab14.jpg (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/vbimghost.php?do=displayimg&imgid=5629)

[skeettx]

And you should also have the barrel thicknesses measured.
That being said, I was shooting an 1893 LC Smith with damascus barrels all weekend
at the Whittington Center near Raton New Mexico and the fella next to me was shooting
and 1871 vintage shotgun.

There is no issue with loading ammo
I just wanted for you to get more info into what you were wanting to do

Mike

p.s. I only shot 200 shells through my 1893 Grade 3 Smith, and what a joy it was

[ncbearman]

And you should also have the barrel thicknesses measured.
That being said, I was shooting an 1893 LC Smith with damascus barrels all weekend
at the Whittington Center near Raton New Mexico and the fella next to me was shooting
and 1871 vintage shotgun.

There is no issue with loading ammo


So..........what type shells/loads were you using?

[skeettx]

Black and Smokeless

With the black, the same volumn powder charge (2F) as the weight charge. So you can set a dipper for 1 ounce and then measure both shot and powder with the same dipper.
Then you only need to adjust the wad column to allow a good crimp.

Do not use a steel reloader for measuring the powder, the static build up may cause the powder to ignite.

Also the hulls are only good for one reload, they burn and get brittle, throw them away after use.

Mike

[elk hunter]

I've shot lots of low pressure smokeless loads through many old doubles over the past fifty or so years. I try to keep the loads at no more than 6500 LUP which is about what I would expect a black powder load to generate although black powder can generate much higher pressures under the right conditions. A typical American trap load will generate 9000 to 1000 LUP, quite a difference. If you can find some "Lage uniwads" and their reloading information you can make wonderful low pressure 12 gauge shotshells that will not injure a solid old gun.

Lage Uniwad Inc.
P.O. Box 446
Victor, Iowa 52347
(319) 647-3232

That's the last information I have on them.

Good luck.

[webfoot10]

Better check the length of your chamber. Tho older blackpowder shells were only 2 1/4
in in length. New shells are 2 1/2 in, in length or 2 3/4 when fired. I've seen guys fire the
2 3/4 in shell in the 2 1/2 in chambers and have the barrel ribs pop from the pressure.
No need to ruin a nice old gun. Just cut 1/4 in off the 2 3/4 shell and build a wad column
for your load, then load as usual.
webfoot10

[skeettx]

You really ought to start here

http://www.rstshells.com/rst_classic_shotshells_shotshells.htm

plus read here

http://www.tbullock.com/bpsg.html

or if you want to get DIRTY

http://www.kitterytradingpost.com/product.php/prodid/24575

and another good read

http://www.davidscottharper.com/shoot/BrassShotshell.pdf